VeterUSA · Emergency triage
Did your dog eat xylitol or sugar-free gum?
Covers sugar-free gum, mints and candy, some peanut butters, baked goods, and toothpaste. Enter your dog's weight and amount for a risk level and what to do now.
Xylitol acts fast — a dangerous blood-sugar crash can start in 10–60 minutes. This is one of the most urgent dog poisonings there is. If your dog ate sugar-free gum, don't wait for a number — call now.
Xylitol content varies wildly and often isn't labeled in grams. This tool assumes worst-case to keep your dog safe — a single piece of gum or a single mint can contain up to ~1 gram. Underestimating xylitol is dangerous, so it always errs high.
Why xylitol is so dangerous for dogs
Xylitol is a sugar substitute that's harmless to people but triggers a rapid, massive insulin release in dogs. That crashes their blood sugar (hypoglycemia) within minutes to an hour, and at higher doses it can cause acute liver failure. Cats are less affected, but for dogs this is one of the fastest-moving household poisonings there is.
The peanut butter trap
People give dogs peanut butter constantly — in Kongs, for pills, as treats. A growing number of "no sugar added," keto, and diabetic-friendly peanut butters contain xylitol. Always read the label before giving your dog peanut butter. If it lists xylitol (sometimes as "birch sugar"), don't use it.
Where it hides
Sugar-free gum (the #1 cause), sugar-free mints and candy, some peanut and nut butters, baked goods labeled "sugar-free" or "keto," human toothpaste and mouthwash, chewable vitamins and some medications, and certain nasal sprays.
Symptoms
Weakness, wobbliness, vomiting, collapse, tremors, and seizures — often within 30–60 minutes as blood sugar drops. Liver damage may show up over 12–72 hours as vomiting, yellowing gums, or lethargy.
What a vet will do
Check blood sugar, start IV dextrose to correct hypoglycemia, run liver bloodwork, and give liver-protective care and monitoring. Caught early, the outlook is good — which is exactly why speed matters.
Educational information, not a diagnosis. Xylitol content in products varies and isn't always disclosed; this tool intentionally estimates high. When in any doubt, treat it as an emergency.
Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661 · ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435 (a fee may apply).